BJP in Karnataka stages statewide demonstration against fuel price hike
Bengaluru (PTI): The opposition BJP in Karnataka on Monday staged a statewide demonstration against the hike in petrol and diesel prices.
The Karnataka government on Saturday hiked sales tax on fuel, which will make petrol and diesel costlier. Petrol prices have gone up by Rs 3 per litre and diesel by Rs 3.5 per litre.
The agitation took place at all the district headquarters of the state.
In Bengaluru, BJP state president B Y Vijayendra led the agitation. He said the protest has been organised against the anti-people stand of the Congress government in Karnataka.
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He charged that the hike in petrol and diesel prices will have a direct impact on all the sectors. Due to the five guarantees, the state government was in a big financial burden. As a result, lot of development work had come to a halt, he said. "The government realised that stopping the guarantees would result in public outrage. To continue these guarantees, the government did not have money, so it hiked the petrol and diesel prices," Vijayendra said.
The Congress government's five guarantee schemes are – 200 units of free power to all households (Gruha Jyoti), Rs 2,000 monthly assistance to the woman head of every family (Gruha Lakshmi), payment of cash in lieu of the additional 5 kg of rice to every member of a BPL household (Anna Bhagya), Rs 3,000 every month for unemployed graduate youth and Rs 1,500 for diploma holders for two years (YuvaNidhi), and free travel for women in public transport buses (Shakti).
According to officials, the hike was aimed at resource mobilisation.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is also the finance minister, reviewed the state's revenue generation and fiscal position and took the decision.
The increase in fuel prices comes days after the Lok Sabha poll results, in which NDA got 19 out of 28 seats in Karnataka, with the BJP winning 17 and JD(S) 2. The ruling Congress in the state won nine seats.
#WATCH | Bengaluru: Karnataka Assembly LoP R Ashok, along with other BJP workers, arrives at Freedom Park with bullock cart to protest against the petrol and diesel price hike in the state. pic.twitter.com/j8YGaqkzym
— ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2024
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I had suggested to CWC that Rahul Gandhi should be Leader of Opposition in LS: CM Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru (PTI): Congratulating Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for occupying the post of Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said it was he who had suggested and moved a proposal at a recent Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, urging him to take up the role.
The decision on Gandhi's appointment as the Leader of Opposition was announced soon after a meeting of the floor leaders of the INDIA bloc at Congress chief M Mallikarjun Kharge's residence last night.
"At the (Congress) working committee meeting I had suggested and moved a proposal that Rahul Gandhi should accept the post of Leader of Opposition. To face the BJP government and (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi I had urged that you (Rahul Gandhi) should become the Leader of Opposition and so did the working committee and others. Rahul Gandhi accepting this responsibility is good in the interest of the country," Siddaramaiah said.
While speaking to reporters here, he said: "I congratulate him wholeheartedly for taking this responsibility."
Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress chief D K Shivakumar said it was the wish of the people and the demand of the party workers that Gandhi should accept this responsibility.
Congress party and INDI Alliance will grow stronger under his leadership, he said.
"On behalf of the INDI Alliance and on behalf of the people of the country I would like to congratulate Rahul Gandhi for accepting our demand. It is not his wish, it is the wish of the people of the country. He has accepted it. I would like to congratulate Sonia Gandhi and AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge for taking the bold decision and for insisting on him (Rahul) to accept this responsibility," Shivakumar added.
